The Professional Footballers’ Associations (PFA) of England and the UNFP of France have taken FIFA to court in Brussels, challenging FIFA’s decision to unilaterally set the timetable for the new Club World Cup scheduled for 2025. Here are the key points from the legal challenge:
1. **Legal Basis**: The PFA and UNFP argue that FIFA’s decision to expand the Club World Cup, increasing it from seven to 32 teams and scheduling it in June and July 2025 in the United States, violates the rights of players and their unions under the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and potentially breaches EU competition law.
2. **Concerns Raised**: The players’ unions contend that the expanded Club World Cup imposes an excessive burden on players already facing an overloaded football calendar. They argue that this expansion disregards the objections and concerns raised by player unions regarding the sustainability of the football calendar.
3. **Legal Action Details**: With the support of FIFPRO, the global players’ union, the PFA and UNFP have filed a case in the Brussels Commercial Court. They are seeking a referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) by submitting “four questions for a preliminary ruling”. This is aimed at challenging FIFA’s authority to unilaterally impose such significant changes without proper consultation or negotiation with player unions.
4. **Allegations Against FIFA**: The unions accuse FIFA of expanding competitions like the Club World Cup despite opposition from player unions. They argue that FIFA’s actions undermine the rights of European workers to collectively bargain over their terms of employment and to work in healthy and safe conditions, as protected by European law.
5. **Response from FIFA**: FIFA has not yet provided an official comment on the legal challenge. However, sources close to FIFA have pointed out that decisions such as the international match calendar, which includes events like the Club World Cup, are approved by FIFA’s ruling Council, which includes representatives from all continental confederations, including UEFA.
6. **Broader Implications**: This legal challenge underscores ongoing tensions between FIFA and player unions regarding the expansion of football competitions and the impact on player welfare. The outcome could potentially set a precedent regarding the scope of FIFA’s authority and the rights of players under European law.
In summary, the PFA and UNFP’s legal challenge against FIFA seeks to address concerns over the expanded Club World Cup and its implications for player rights, arguing that FIFA’s decisions should respect the rights and interests of players as well as comply with EU legal standards.